--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My brother, Cecil Edward Chesterton, was…" description: "\"My brother, Cecil Edward Chesterton, was born when I was about five years old; and, after a brief pause, began to argue. He continued to argue to the e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_arguing_my-brother-cecil-edward-chesterton-was-b_2720272.jpg" --- # My brother, Cecil Edward Chesterton, was born when I was… ![“My brother, Cecil Edward Chesterton, was born when I was about five years old; and, after a brief pause, began to argue. He continued to argue to the end. I am glad to think that through all those years we never stopped arguing; and we never once quarreled. Perhaps the principal objection to a…” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_arguing_my-brother-cecil-edward-chesterton-was-b_2720272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_arguing_my-brother-cecil-edward-chesterton-was-b_2720272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_arguing_my-brother-cecil-edward-chesterton-was-b_2720272.jpg) > “My brother, Cecil Edward Chesterton, was born when I was about five years old; and, after a brief pause, began to argue. He continued to argue to the end. I am glad to think that through all those years we never stopped arguing; and we never once quarreled. Perhaps the principal objection to a quarrel is that it interrupts an argument.” [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Continuous argument can be a sign of healthy debate, not conflict; quarrels interrupt deeper discussion. **In simple terms:** Argument can be healthy; quarrels disrupt. Key Takeaway Embrace constructive debate, avoid needless quarrels. Themes debate argument communication conflict resolution intellectual engagement Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - academic settings - family discussions - online forums Key Concepts critical discourse philosophical dialogue Questions to Reflect On - When does argument become argument? - How can you keep dialogue constructive? A Different Perspective Quarrels may stem from ego. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Arguing Quarreled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing-quarreled-2875609/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Began Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/began-argue-1256272/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five year olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-year-olds/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [My brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-brother/) [Objection Quarrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objection-quarrel-2875610/) [Objections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objections/) [Pauses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauses/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) [Quarrels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarrels/) [Stopped Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped-arguing-2875611/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[D\]avid began to argue, with the whining intonations of German astonishment, \[...\] that everyone did it.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/d-avid-began-to-argue-with-the-whining-intonations-of-german/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [ At a certain age I just stopped arguing. I realized that there was no way \[my father\] could see, because for him to approve… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/at-a-certain-age-i-just-stopped-arguing-i-realized-that-there-was-no/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [A good Moslem king was one who was strict in religion, valiant in battle, just in giving judgment among his people, but not one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-good-moslem-king-was-one-who-was-strict-in-religion-valiant-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I started at a 'learn to swim' scheme when I was about five-years-old. I did it to learn water safety, but it was fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-tancock/i-started-at-a-learn-to-swim-scheme-when-i-was-about-five-years-old-i/) [Liam Tancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-tancock/) > [ Caesar \[from the Rise of the Planet of the Apes\] was brought up with human beings and because of the drug he had pretty… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/caesar-from-the-rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-was-brought-up-with/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [We've been married for 10 years. We have a five-year-old boy and an 11-month-old boy and life is good. It's a constant juggle but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/we-ve-been-married-for-10-years-we-have-a-five-year-old-boy-and-an-11/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I am excited to have the opportunity to help provide the same swim instruction that I received as a child when I was enrolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-am-excited-to-have-the-opportunity-to-help-provide-the-same-swim/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [When you're five years old, and you're running a business that people did not think there was room for... getting attention is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/when-you-re-five-years-old-and-you-re-running-a-business-that-people/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [I am known for what I'm do. But I'm not a five-year-old Hong Konger, I'm not a kid demonstrating in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-doyle/i-am-known-for-what-i-m-do-but-i-m-not-a-five-year-old-hong-konger-i/) [Christopher Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-doyle/) > [When I was four or five years old, I heard a lot of stories about the Holocaust because both my parents were survivors. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-boltanski/when-i-was-four-or-five-years-old-i-heard-a-lot-of-stories-about-the/) [Christian Boltanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-boltanski/) > [I used to go to the supermarket dressed as Peter Pan when I was about five years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-treadaway/i-used-to-go-to-the-supermarket-dressed-as-peter-pan-when-i-was-about/) [Luke Treadaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-treadaway/) > [I've taken magic lessons since I was five-years-old. When I was little I would wear a top hat and cape, and I'd get relentlessly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/i-ve-taken-magic-lessons-since-i-was-five-years-old-when-i-was-little/) [Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/) > [My dad abandoned me when I was about two years old. So, he wasn't around to protect me the way I needed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattie-mallette/my-dad-abandoned-me-when-i-was-about-two-years-old-so-he-wasn-t/) [Pattie Mallette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattie-mallette/) > [Four- and five-year-olds' play is permeated with the rankest sexism. No matter what their parents do and say, they play their momand pop roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-chess/four-and-five-year-olds-play-is-permeated-with-the-rankest-sexism-no/) [Stella Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-chess/) > [A five-year-old Chinese girl knows more about football than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/a-five-year-old-chinese-girl-knows-more-about-football-than-i-do/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) ## More by Gilbert K. Chesterton > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Youth is always too serious, and just now it is too serious about frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/youth-is-always-too-serious-and-just-now-it-is-too-serious-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Tradition does not mean a dead town; it does not mean that the living are dead but that the dead are alive. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tradition-does-not-mean-a-dead-town-it-does-not-mean-that-the-living/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted; precisely because most things are permitted and only a few things forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-shorter-to-state-the-things-forbidden-than-the-things-permitted/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [For Scotland has a double dose of the poison called heredity; the sense of blood in the aristocrat, the sense of doom in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/for-scotland-has-a-double-dose-of-the-poison-called-heredity-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [A building is akin to dogma; it is insolent, like dogma. Whether or no it is permanent, it claims permanence, like a dogma. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-building-is-akin-to-dogma-it-is-insolent-like-dogma-whether-or-no/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Criticism is only words about words, and of what use are words about such words as these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/criticism-is-only-words-about-words-and-of-what-use-are-words-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place...The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping; not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/what-we-suffer-from-today-is-humility-in-the-wrong-place-the-old/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Plato was only a Bernard Shaw who unfortunately made his jokes in Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/plato-was-only-a-bernard-shaw-who-unfortunately-made-his-jokes-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The word good has many meanings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-word-good-has-many-meanings/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Eugenics asserts that all men must be so stupid that they cannot manage their own affairs; and also so clever that they can manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/eugenics-asserts-that-all-men-must-be-so-stupid-that-they-cannot/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Explore all 868 Gilbert K. Chesterton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. 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They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My brother, Cecil Edward Chesterton, was born when I was about five years old; and, after a brief pause, began to argue. He continued to argue to the end. I am glad to think that through all those years we never stopped arguing; and we never once quarreled. 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